In the first pic I would have picked the left one to be caputo based on the color of the dough, but Now I see that it is just the lighting. Based on the 2nd pic, I'd say the right is the caputo based on the look and fermentation. But there could be several reasonings to why one dough would ferment just a bit quicker. Slightly diff amounts of yeast, one flour being slightly weaker than the other, gluten strength based on hydration and mixing, one ball being closer to the ice source in the cooler, etc.

The amount of ingredients were exactly the same. I have a scale that weights to .01 grams and that is what I used for the salt and yeast....

Both were kneeded the same amount of time in the mixer and identically slapped and folded....

Both placed in identical bowls, and bulking in the same exact location and temp.

paolo, what are you paying for caputo? it costs me 30.26.I'm assuming you cannot find it and are adding shipping to your costs. looking forward to you test results. my guess is they will be very close.

scott123

My reasoning is that the RD has a lower falling number. Cheaper flours tend to be made from inferior wheat that wasn't harvested as conscientiously and thus has moved further along the sprouting process and has higher enzyme activity. This would explain the tighter appearance before and the slacker appearance now- the higher enzyme activity is driving faster fermentation.

I have posted the results of this Battle or at least results for the RD Supremo Italiano here on the forum previously back in 2011so I will keep my mouth shut . This was pre Flirting with Fire and this was my very first gig getting paid to make pizza ! http://www.pizzamaking.com/forum/index.php/topic,13198.0.htmlBack to the flour. its Amazing how good the RD is, is all I will say. If its all I had access to I would have no problem using it all the time ! The Difference in price between the 2 flours at consumer level Rest. Depot and Cash and Carry is around $6 for 55lbs Rest Depot is $28 and caputo is $34 Friday only at E&S foods. I get Caputo for$30 bucks a sack from a great guy who ownes a super Neapolitan joint here in Ridgewood NJ. "consistency is king"John

My reasoning is that the RD has a lower falling number. Cheaper flours tend to be made from inferior wheat that wasn't harvested as conscientiously and thus has moved further along the sprouting process and has higher enzyme activity. This would explain the tighter appearance before and the slacker appearance now- the higher enzyme activity is driving faster fermentation.

I've decided I'll move all my chips over to the explanation Scott has given. The expedited fermentation process he proposes for the "cheaper" cut of wheat, stemming from it's inherent increased enzyme activity just sounds correct to me.

Can you describe the characteristics of the bulk dough before you ball it? For example, is it light and airy or firm to the touch, etc. Can you estimate the volume of expansion?

Thanks.

Peter

The dough on the left was light, airy and seemed much wetter than the one on the right. The one on the right felt more firm and dry, in fact after balling them the left dough balls widened, (pancake effect) while the right ones stayed tighter..... Volume of expansion? Sorry, I am not that sophisticated......

Without any further wait......

The dough on the left of the pictures was RD brand, the right was Caputo....... Congrats to those who answered correctly.....

Thank you for the description of the two doughs. Now the fun part begins. I'd like to see if the dough balls make it through another 24 hours of room temperature fermentation at 65 degrees F. If you see that the dough balls ferment too fast and want to flatten out too much, you might want to use the refrigerator to slow down the fermentation process.

What characteristics of the dough do you see that leads to the knobbiness conclusion you mentioned? Is it the breakdown of the gluten matrix, or maybe overfermentation of the dough, or maybe something else?